I'm a pretty average miniature painter, but I do like to break out the brushes now and then and work on a painting project. Particularly in early Summer, when it's not freezing-as-shit in my garage. I come up with a goal and see what I can accomplish over 6-8 weeks. Last year, my project was to paint a shit-ton of Zombicide miniatures, and it went fairly well.

I don't really have the time to do any actual wargaming, nor do I have any friends that are into it. So, I settle for miniature-boardgames (or whatever the term is) - fun boardgames with a shit-ton of cool, decently-sculpted minis. Preferably those that you can play with 2-4 players. And this year I'm looking for a cool boardgame that I can paint the shit out of.

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? Zombicide really struck a chord with me, and I had a great time painting and playing the game. So, I'm looking for something along the same lines (but not an expansion for Zombicide - something new and interesting).

Quote from: K Peterson;945703Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? Zombicide really struck a chord with me, and I had a great time painting and playing the game. So, I'm looking for something along the same lines (but not an expansion for Zombicide - something new and interesting).

I think Zombicide is among the ones that gives the most miniatures for the money, but I think Mars Attacks is close, especially if it includes the extra troopers that my copy did. I'm not sure how it is as game though.
If the game is more important, I guess Imperial Assault (Star Wars) and Mansions of Madness (CoC) could be more interesting, even though they do not give nearly as much miniarures.

I've seen yet another game that was CoC-inspired, but I do not remember its name.

[video=youtube;Cx8sl2uC46A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx8sl2uC46A[/youtube]

Seen that video. Pretty damned entertaining. Guess I'd have to trawl eBay for copies of HeroQuest.

I'll take a look at Mars Attacks.

Those guys on Nerdarchy recommended a board game for its loads of minatures but the name escapes me.

That same company makes quite a few games like that, such as Blood Rage, Rum and Bones, and The Others: 7 Sins. Might be worth a look.

There are also a number of 2 player sports games like Guild Ball and Blood Bowl.

I backed The Others: 7 Sins and so far I am very happy camper. Great minis, beautiful bits and the rules look good. I will post a review after I have the chance to actually run the damn thing with players.

The new Conan boardgame is good for 2-5 players. Lots of nice minis.

Well, I ended up buying a copy of the recent version of Blood Bowl. Even though it doesn't include a shit-ton of minis, and it's 2-player, it looks like a blast. And I think I'd have a good time painting up the teams. I might even spring for a couple extra teams.

Looked it up and the games for minis they recommend are the aforementioned Heroquest, Mage Knight and I've seen others mention Descent. Zombicide Black Plague also has some cool looking minis.

Mansions of Madness has some good minis if you like a lovecraftian theme.

Mice and Mystics, its two expansions and Tail Feathers from Plaid Hat are fun if you like a more fairy tale Secret of NIMH sort of theme.

Shadow of Brimstone is a fun co-op with a Wild West Horror theme.

The problem is that the best deals to be had are all on Kickstarter, and all while you can get in during a campaign (or reasonably priced late pledge) because retail just isn't worth it in comparison usually.  Cool Mini or Not is the absolute worst/best for this.  But if you -do- back stuff, expect to wait 6+ months longer than the estimates give, assuming you get stuff at all.

And no, I'm not doing the searches for you.  

Late Pledge Option (for minis -and- a decent game for 2-5 people -and- a high likelihood you'll get what you pay for)
* There's a new edition of Siege of the Citadel still taking late pledges.
* Mythic Battles Pantheon is also well worth a look.
* Gods War is also noteworthy.
* Darklight Memento Mori if you want a Heroquest-style dungeon crawler with some new looking monsters and such.
* Shadows of Brimstone Forbidden Fortress if you want some Asian themed stuff at a decent price that you'll have to assemble yourself.
* The World of Smog: Rise of Moloch if you want some weird Victorian style to play with.
* Vengeance if you want a bunch of modern crooks and badasses out of a contemporary noir ultra-violence film.
* Vampire Hunters if you want a twist on Zombicide in terms of mechanics, and you want a -bunch- of different vampire miniature options.
* Deep Madness if you want -another- twist on Zombicide, and you want a -bunch- of different horrible aquatic nightmare chaotic blobby monsters (and didn't get in on The Others already).
* And of course Kingdom Death Monster 1.5, because you want a super popular game... and that's after people have to assemble and paint all the minis themselves.

Stuff Out in Retail
* Cthulhu Wars, because you want a cool game about giant Cthulhu monsters beating each other up that's made by Sandy Peterson (you know, the guy who created the Call of Cthulhu RPG and a bunch of stuff for the mythos)
* Fireteam Zero, because you want weird original monsters and some WW2 guys.
* Yashima, because it's cheap and decent and you want some kung-fu stuff (although the number of minis here -is- pretty small).
* Rum and Bones, because you want lots of fantasy themed pirate options (although you may want the Second Tide/2ed version, and this breaks my "never buy CMoN at retail" rule)

Hope this helps!

Quote from: san dee jota;946823* Cthulhu Wars, because you want a cool game about giant Cthulhu monsters beating each other up that's made by Sandy Peterson (you know, the guy who created the Call of Cthulhu RPG and a bunch of stuff for the mythos)

Sounds awesome. And just when I thought I had enough Cthulhu themed board and card games...

Isn't Kindom Death some ridiculous amount even via KS? $250 or some such madness?

Quote from: Voros;946852Sounds awesome. And just when I thought I had enough Cthulhu themed board and card games...

Cthulhu Wars is very much a labor of love, and there's tons of videos out there featuring game play.  That said, if you don't like games where you're beating down opponents in an asymetrical slugfest, you can probably skip it.  And while the minis are nice, the scale is way off.  I mean, Cthulhu is only two or three times taller than a normal figure.

Quote from: Voros;946852Isn't Kindom Death some ridiculous amount even via KS? $250 or some such madness?

Oh yeah.  It's pricey as all get out.  -But- if you want a good game with good minis, it's the one to beat.

Mansion of Madness (2nd Ed) is a fun game with  a decent amount of minis. Not sure how they are for painting but the game is pretty fun.